US YAL‑1 Boeing 747 laser aircraft shot down two missiles in 2010

The YAL‑1, a Boeing 747‑400F cargo plane converted to carry a one‑megawatt COIL iodine‑oxygen laser, destroyed a solid‑fuel ballistic missile on 3 February 2010 off California.

Eight days later it destroyed a liquid‑fuel Scud missile in the Pacific; only one YAL‑1 was built despite an original plan for seven, with Boeing leading the program, Northrop Grumman designing the laser, Lockheed Martin providing the fire‑control system and turret, and the Missile Defense Agency awarding the project in 2001.